The opening of the cafe is the latest attraction transforming the area into a destination for neighborhood families, visitors from across the City and tourists alike. It is steps from two state-of-the-art playgrounds opened earlier this year and a cornerstone of a major effort to enliven the public spaces linking Market Street and City Hall with outdoor art, free performances, and regular family friendly events.

Bringing the cafe to the plaza was a collaboration between the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the Civic Center Community Benefit District (CCCBD). Bi-Rite, the operator of the new cafe, is a local family-owned institution since 1940. Architecture firm WRNS Studio led the design.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed was among the first to welcome Bi-Rite to the neighborhood.

“As someone who spends a lot of time in the Civic Center area, I am excited to see Bi-Rite Cafe open,” said Mayor Breed. “Between the new Helen Diller Playgrounds, monthly Civic Center block parties, and the opening of Bi-Rite, we are activating this important community space to better serve residents, families, and visitors.”

The cafe was born from broad community input during the planning process for the new playgrounds requesting more fresh food options.

“We are committed to serving the growing Civic Center and Tenderloin neighborhoods while creating a destination that brings people from across San Francisco, the Bay Area and around the world out to eat, play, and enjoy the arts at the center of the city,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg.

Bi-Rite Family of Businesses was chosen due to its deep, multi-generational ties to San Francisco and its long history of creating space where community members could deepen their relationships with food and each other. The Bi-Rite Family also includes 18 Reasons, a nonprofit community cooking school. Bi-Rite has significant ties to the neighborhood, ensuring residents on public assistance have access to fresh produce through the EBT Market Match program at Heart of the City Farmers’ Market. Its partnerships have also included Episcopal Community Services’ CHEFS Program, the Tenderloin Healthy Corner Store Coalition and Project Open Hand.

“The Civic Center is such an important, iconic part of San Francisco and we’re excited to have this opportunity to continue our mission of creating community through food and to deepen our relationship with Civic Center and surrounding communities,” explained Sam Mogannam, founding partner of Bi-Rite Family of Businesses. “And as a native San Franciscan, I’m proud to have a role in helping the Plaza be a safe and welcoming place for families and visitors to enjoy the delicious, responsibly sourced, local food they deserve.”

To encourage learning and healthy food choices, Bi-Rite Cafe is partnering with San Francisco Public Library’s Main Branch to provide whole, fresh fruit to children and teens who visit the library’s Children’s Room or Teen Center. Every time they visit, kids will receive a special Bi-Rite sticker, which they can then show to the Cafe staff to receive a free piece of fruit. The Cafe has also been actively working with the City’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development to hire staff directly from the neighborhood.

Funding for the cafe came from a $2 million Mercer Fund grant made in honor of Helen Diller, whose family foundation awarded the generous $10 million donation to fund the design and construction of two vibrant, state-of-the-art playgrounds, at no cost to the City.

“My parents were native San Franciscans and we are honored to be a part of the team working on this important project,” said Helen Diller Family Foundation President Jackie Safier, whose parents started the foundation in 1999. “The care and thought put into each detail by everyone involved has been a labor of love.”

Through the Trust for Public Land, the Foundation donated the funds to the Civic Center Plaza community in 2013 to provide a central gathering space where families can play while enjoying local, healthy food. In partnership with SF Rec and Park, TPL led the community engagement, design, and construction of the playgrounds and cafe.

“San Francisco truly is a leader in park access, with 100 percent of San Franciscans living within a 10-minute walk of a park,” said Diane Regas, president and CEO of The Trust for Public Land. “We’re proud to help make Civic Center Plaza a crowd-favorite destination for fun, outdoor inspiration and now, refreshment.”

Responsible for the cafe’s building management, the Civic Center Community Benefit District will reinvest the rent collected from Bi-Rite directly back into the Civic Center Plaza open spaces and playgrounds.

For the past several years at Civic Center Plaza, SF Rec and Park has offered classes and games for adults and youth such as Zumba, soccer, bocce ball, kickball, and volleyball as well as weekly food trucks in partnership with Off the Grid. Building upon the momentum championed by the Department, the City has launched the Civic Center Commons Initiative, a collaborative effort to breathe new life into the City’s central civic spaces so people who live, work and play nearby can enjoy free outdoor cultural events in the heart of San Francisco.

The elegant design of the cafe was led by architecture firm WRNS Studio. With California local stone, intricate stainless steel, and gates that open on all sides to form a canopy, the design creates a welcoming sense of place that complements both the new playgrounds and the historic architecture of the surrounding Civic Center buildings. The cafe draws in visitors and encourages enjoyment of the park and surrounding views.

Also integral to the project were the San Francisco Planning Commission, Public Works, Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Arts Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Department of Building Inspection, Office of the City Administrator and Hunters Point Family.

Bi-Rite Cafe, located at 52 Grove Street, will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. The menu offers breakfast and lunch all day and includes healthy, kid-friendly options. The cafe will also feature Bi-Rite Creamery soft serve ice cream and a full espresso bar and coffee program featuring Sightglass Coffee.

More on San Francisco Recreation and Park Department

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department currently manages more than 220 parks, playgrounds and open spaces throughout San Francisco, including two outside city limits. The system includes full-complex recreation centers, swimming pools, golf courses, sports fields and numerous small-to-medium-sized clubhouses that offer a variety of sports- and arts-related recreation programs for people of all ages.

More on the Helen Diller Family Foundation

The Helen Diller Family Foundation has supported a number of programs and institutions in the Bay Area and throughout the world, including other award-winning playground renovations in the city, such as the Helen Diller Play Area at Julius Kahn Playground in the Presidio and the recent Helen Diller playground in Mission Dolores Park.

More on The Trust for Public Land

The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Millions of people live near a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year. To support The Trust for Public Land and share why nature matters to you, visit www.tpl.org.

More on Bi-Rite Family of Businesses

In addition to the Cafe, the Bi-Rite Family of Businesses includes two neighborhood Markets, a Creamery, a full-service catering operation, and a small farm. Bi-Rite is also a Certified B Corp. To learn more, visit biritemarket.com.

More on the Civic Center Community Benefit District

The Civic Center Community Benefit District (CCCBD) improves and promotes San Francisco’s historic Civic Center through a host of planning, policy and public programming initiatives. In addition to focused and responsive neighborhood clean and safe programs, CCCBD provides public open space beautification, activation and advocacy on behalf of the area’s diverse constituency.

More on WRNS Studio

WRNS Studio has been responsible for numerous projects that enhance the public realm in San Francisco, including Boeddeker Park and Hayes Valley Playground.

More on the Civic Center Commons Initiative

The Civic Center Commons Initiative is a collaborative effort among the City of San Francisco and neighbors, community organizations, and cultural institutions to breathe new life into the City’s central civic spaces, changing how people engage with the place and with each other so that everyone can feel welcome and experience the best of San Francisco every day. Led by the City of San Francisco in partnership with neighbors, community organizations, and cultural institutions, the initiative is transforming Civic Center Plaza, UN Plaza, and Fulton Street between the Main Library and the Asian Art Museum with San Francisco-style attractions such as the Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds, the new Bi-Rite Café and Village Artist Corner at the Asian Art Museum; innovative workforce development partnerships that help keep the area clean and safe while providing jobs for people facing barriers to employment; and frequent free events, markets, recreational activities, and whimsical art installations that are changing how people engage with the space and each other. For more information, please visit www.civiccentercommons.org.

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]]>Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds Openinghttps://sfrecpark.org/event/helen-diller-civic-center-playgrounds-opening/
Thu, 15 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0000http://sfrecpark.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=117420<3 your parks? Well Cupid is coming to the Civic Center! Everyone is invited to celebrate the opening of these creative play spaces with interactive lighting in the heart of the city … Continue reading →]]>

<3 your parks? Well Cupid is coming to the Civic Center! Everyone is invited to celebrate the opening of these creative play spaces with interactive lighting in the heart of the city with Love Your City – Love Your Parks! This fun for all ages event will include crafts, facepainting, Mobile Rec, Food & Refreshments, the Bubble Smith and DJ Wonway Posibul! The event will occure on Wednesday, February 14 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Civic Center Plaza at Larkin and Fulton Streets. For more information, contact Philip Vitale at the Trust for Public Land (TPL) at philip.vitale@tpl.org or (415) 800-5279.

The timline for the event is as follows:

4:00 p.m: Play, Crafts, Activities, Refreshments

5:45 p.m: Ceremony, Lighting Display & Dance Performance by the MJDC

6:15 p.m: Ribbon Cutting

A special thanks to the Helen Diller Family Foundation and the TPL for your partnership on this project!

]]>SF Rec & Parks to Open Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds After $10 Million Renovationhttps://sfrecpark.org/sf-rec-parks-to-open-helen-diller-civic-center-playgrounds-after-10-million-renovation/
Wed, 07 Feb 2018 22:07:20 +0000http://sfrecpark.org/?p=117711SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (SF Rec & Parks), The Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the Helen Diller Family Foundation, to officially open the newly renovated Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds, located in the heart of San Francisco’s Civic Center Historic District, on Valentines … Continue reading →]]>

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (SF Rec & Parks), The Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the Helen Diller Family Foundation, to officially open the newly renovated Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds, located in the heart of San Francisco’s Civic Center Historic District, on Valentines Day this Wednesday, February 14.

The Helen Diller Family Foundation generously donated $10 million through The Trust for Public Land to fund the innovative design and construction of these two vibrant playgrounds. San Francisco Recreation & Parks, members of the Helen Diller Family Foundation, The Trust for Public Land, city officials, and members of the public will celebrate the opening of the new playgrounds on Wednesday, February 14th. The community celebration will begin at 4PM with a special interactive light feature ceremony at 5:45PM.

“These new state-of-the-art playgrounds and street café will serve the growing families in the densely populated Civic Center and Tenderloin neighborhoods, creating a fun, lively plaza space for all to enjoy. We’re proud and honored to officially open these new playgrounds in the late Mayor Lee’s memory whose career was exemplified by his kindness to San Francisco’s children and families,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec & Parks General Manager. “In partnership with the Helen Diller Family Foundation and The Trust for Public Land, we are transforming Civic Center Plaza into a joyful neighborhood park that will continue to build and strengthen the communities around the area.”

In recent years, with the support of city leaders, park advocates, community members, and San Francisco voters, SF Rec & Parks has invested more than $30 million park improvements in Civic Center, Tenderloin, and South of Market neighborhoods. In addition to the $10 million Helen Diller Civic Center Playground renovations, the improvements included Boeddeker Park reopened in 2014 after $9.3 million renovation; South Park reopened in 2017 after $3.8 million renovation; brand new batting cage at Victoria Manalo Draves Park; and upcoming $2.5 million renovation for Sgt. John Macaulay Playground, and $1 million renovation for Turk and Hyde Mini Park.

“The Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds elevates the importance of art and children in the urban landscape in the country and serves as a national model for public engagement in our central cities,” said The Trust for Public Land’s California State Director Guillermo Rodriguez. “Thanks to the generosity of the Helen Diller Family Foundation and working in partnership with the amazing staff at Recreation and Park Department, we completed this world class project in just a year for everyone’s enjoyment.”

Civic Center Plaza, across from City Hall, is the hub of the City’s cultural life, surrounded by its most notable cultural institutions, including the Main Library, the Asian Art Museum, the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Ballet, and many other institutions that have active programming for children. With the increasing number of people and families visiting and moving into the neighborhood, Civic Center Plaza has evolved into an area with many functions that serve the diverse needs of those who live and work in the area.

Designed by the award-winning San Francisco based firm Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture (ACLA) in partnership with The Trust for Public Land, the new playgrounds are symmetrically aligned with City Hall, and inspired by nature and weather themes. The new playgrounds come with custom designed play features such as “Sky Punch”, a treehouse structure that is designed to challenge children as they climb up through the clouds of nets, and “Lenticular Cloud”, a spiraling play structure connects the ground path for children to roam along the colorful catwalk or explore using the twisting net. It also includes “Fog Valley”, series of inverted semi circles that created a multi-use play structure to swing on the climbing cars and balance on the stretched membrane; and “Cumulus City”, a little city of climbing structures which makes little play houses for children to escape and find a little retreat for imaginative games.

To complement the new playgrounds and activate the adjoining space is the installation of the “Pole Forest” and “KARL,” the largest interactive floor light display in the country created by a team of talents including Cory Barr, Chris Cerrito, Paul Mans, Pete Scheidl, Matt Thomas, George Zisiadis, and ACLA.

The “Pixel Poles” connect the two playgrounds with a forest of 52 lighting fixtures spread across both playgrounds. Animated light patterns integrate the two playgrounds along with the projected light on the Plaza in between. The installation gives a feeling of surprise with bursts of color as they respond to people’s movement, highlighting the level of civic activity and encouraging inclusive play for all ages.

“KARL” spans the 140 x 50 feet plaza between the playgrounds. It uses heat sensors to project light to create fog droplets and ripples of light that interact and change with passersby. Cory Barr’s algorithm for “KARL” incorporates computer-vision techniques as well as a fluid simulation based on characteristics of San Francisco’s iconic fog. The interactive lighting element is one of the largest public display installations in the country and represents the next generation of integrating public art in public spaces.

Last summer, the Helen Diller Family Foundation expanded its $10 million playground gift to create a street café and central gathering place at Civic Center Plaza to be administered by the Civic Center Community Benefit District (CCCBD). The street café, located at the corner of Grove and Larkin Streets, will be housed in a new kiosk, and the CCCBD selected Bi-Rite to operate the café and will offer a variety of fresh food and drink selections as well as movable tables and seating for the public to relax and enjoy recreational activities at Civic Center Plaza. The Street Café is expected to open in summer, 2018.

“On Valentine’s Day, the Helen Diller Family Foundation has made a loving gift to the children and families of San Francisco of not one but two of the coolest, most inventive and interactive playgrounds in America and serves as a national model for public reengagement in our central cities,” said The Trust for Public Land’s California State Director Guillermo Rodriguez. “These playgrounds feature unprecedented collaboration between a renowned landscape architect, Andrea Cochran, and an international play equipment company, Kompan, to create an unprecedented play experience for children. The Trust for Public Land was honored to partner with Jackie Safier and the Diller family and with San Francisco Recreation & Park Department to bring this significant project to completion for all of San Francisco.”

This project is part of an ongoing partnership between the Recreation and Park and TPL, which has recently resulted in renovations of Hilltop Park, Hayes Valley Playground and Clubhouse, Balboa Park, and Boeddeker Park and Clubhouse. This partnership has delivered more than $30 million in investments to the parks in San Francisco.

For past several years, the Department has been offering Zumba classes, youth soccer, adult bocce ball, adult kickball, and volleyball games as well as food trucks in partnership with Off-The-Grid on a weekly basis. However, now building upon the momentum championed by the Department, the City has launched the Civic Center Commons Initiative, a collaborative effort to breathe new life into the city’s central civic spaces so that people who live, work and visit can celebrate the best of San Francisco every day.

Led by the City of San Francisco in partnership with neighbors, community organizations, and cultural institutions, the initiative is transforming Civic Center Plaza, UN Plaza, and Fulton Street between the Main Library and the Asian Art Museum with San Francisco-style attractions such as Living Innovation Zone installations by the Exploratorium and the Asian Art Museum; innovative workforce development partnerships that help keep the area clean and safe while providing jobs for people facing barriers to employment; and frequent free events, recreational activities, and whimsical art installations that are changing how people engage with the space and each other.

Major capital investments at Civic Center Plaza and the Civic Center Public Realm Plan’s long-range vision for design improvements will catalyze the continued development of the Commons and help it become a powerful symbol of San Francisco’s inclusive values and a model for public spaces around the world.

Photos and video are available for news broadcasting and publication courtesy of CopterOptics Aerial Films.

Construction is underway. The completion date is scheduled for February 2018.

]]>Helen Diller Family Foundation Expands Gift to SF’s Civic Center Plazahttps://sfrecpark.org/helen-diller-family-foundation-expands-gift-to-sfs-civic-center-plaza/
Tue, 25 Jul 2017 21:56:33 +0000http://sfrecpark.org/?p=114560SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department in partnership with The Trust for Public Land and Civic Center Community Benefit District (CCCBD) announced today that Helen Diller Family Foundation will be expanding its $10 million playground renovation gift to Civic Center Plaza. Through The Trust for Public … Continue reading →]]>

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department in partnership with The Trust for Public Land and Civic Center Community Benefit District (CCCBD) announced today that Helen Diller Family Foundation will be expanding its $10 million playground renovation gift to Civic Center Plaza. Through The Trust for Public Land, Helen Diller Family Foundation has donated funds to support CCCBD to create a street café and central gathering place at Civic Center Plaza. CCCBD has selected Bi-Rite, a family-owned San Francisco institution since 1940, to be the operator of the café, which will provide ice cream and a variety of fresh foods.

“During the community outreach and design process for the playground renovation, when we asked the community what other activities they would like to see at Civic Center Plaza, they talked about park amenities like food and seating as well as an area to relax and gather near the playgrounds with their children and families,” said Alejandra Chiesa, Bay Area Program Director with The Trust for Public Land. “Because of the community feedback, we worked with Helen Diller Family Foundation who has offered additional resources and funding to provide this much-needed community hub serving families living in the Civic Center and Tenderloin neighborhoods.”

“Food brings people together, and we could not be more excited about the outcome here,” said Jackie Safier, President of the Helen Diller Family Foundation.

As an active community member in the San Francisco neighborhoods in which it operates, Bi-Rite welcomes this opportunity to deepen its existing partnerships in the Civic Center and Tenderloin neighborhoods, and to bring its delicious ice cream and freshly prepared foods to this new space.

“Creating community through food is why we exist,” shares Sam Mogannam, second-generation owner of Bi-Rite. “And we’re honored to be asked to be a part of the fun and togetherness that this project is going to create in the heart of the City.”

The street café, to be located at the corner of Grove and Larkin Streets, will be housed in a kiosk, and will offer a variety of food and drink selections as well as movable tables and seating for the public to relax and enjoy recreation activities at Civic Center Plaza. Currently, the Department offers Zumba classes, youth soccer, adult bocce ball, adult kickball, and volleyball games as well as food trucks in partnership with Off-The-Grid on a weekly basis. Designed by WRNS, the street café has a light and transparent structure that will preserve the grand views of Civic Center Plaza and allow visibility of the playgrounds when the renovations are completed. And while it is built to last, the café structure can be removed to make way for another long-term future use in the Plaza.

“The CBD’s mission is to provide essential services, including activation, that complement those provided by City agencies,” said Tracy Everwine, Executive Director of the CBD. “This project and our partnership with Bi-Rite enhance our work and will provide a tremendous convenience for Plaza-goers.”

“We are thankful for the generous donation and kind support of Helen Diller Family Foundation, The Trust for Public Land, Civic Center Community Benefit District, Bi-Rite and many other city agencies and community partners,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec and Park Department General Manager. “With their support, our City is making milestones one after another in the effort of activating Civic Center Plaza, making it a fun and lively open space for everyone.”

The street café is a $1 million addition to the already generous $10 million donation the Helen Diller Foundation made in 2013 to Civic Center Plaza community through the Trust for Public Land to fund the design and construction of two vibrant, state-of-the-art playgrounds, at no cost to the City. As part of the multi-year comprehensive community outreach and design process, The Trust for Public Land in partnership with SF Rec and Park Department, conducted a user survey, focus groups and community-wide workshops with stakeholders including parents, educators, children, institutions, and city agencies. The conceptual design for the $10 million renovation was finalized and approved in fall 2016. Members of the Foundation, the Trust for Public Land, city officials, and park advocates joined the Department for a groundbreaking ceremony last February. The gift has also served as a catalyst for a renewed focus on improving and activating Civic Center and the surrounding area.

The street café design will be reviewed by the Planning Department through the application for a Certificate of Appropriateness. The project is scheduled to be presented to the Historic Preservation Commission’s Architectural Review Committee on August 2nd and if approved, it is expected to be presented to full Historic Preservation Commission on August 16th. If and when the project design is approved, The Trust for Public Land will be overseeing the construction of the street café. In addition, the Department is considering a license agreement with CCCBD where CCCBD and Bi-Rite, its selected operator will be managing and operating street café at Civic Center Plaza. The license agreement is expected to be presented to SF Rec and Park Commission this fall. The timeline for the project completion has yet to be determined as it is still undergoing a city approval and public hearing process.

]]>Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds Meeting on May 17https://sfrecpark.org/event/helen-diller-civic-center-playgrounds-meeting-on-may-17/
Thu, 18 May 2017 00:30:00 +0000http://sfrecpark.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=112563Please join us for a celebratory update and exciting announcements on the renovation of the Civic Center Playgrounds & Plaza! It will take place Wednesday, May 17 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at … Continue reading →]]>

Please join us for a celebratory update and exciting announcements on the renovation of the Civic Center Playgrounds & Plaza! It will take place Wednesday, May 17 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the SF Public Library (100 Larkin Street) in Latino/Hispanic Rooms A&B. We look forward to seeing you there!

]]>Helen Diller Playgrounds at Civic Center Updatehttps://sfrecpark.org/helen-diller-playgrounds-at-civic-center-update/
Tue, 07 Mar 2017 00:18:17 +0000http://sfrecpark.org/?p=109031February 14, 2017 we celebrated with a ground breaking ceremony at the Civic Center. Construction fencing was installed on February 15, 2017. Demolition of existing playgrounds is underway. Construction end – November 2017
]]>SF Rec & Park Breaks Ground on $10 Million Helen Diller Civic Center Playgroundshttps://sfrecpark.org/sf-rec-park-breaks-ground-on-10-million-helen-diller-civic-center-playgrounds/
Wed, 15 Feb 2017 02:11:15 +0000http://sfrecpark.org/?p=117413SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Recreation & Park Department, in partnership with the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the Helen Diller Family Foundation, is proud to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds, located in the heart of San Francisco’s Civic Center Historic District. The … Continue reading →]]>

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Recreation & Park Department, in partnership with the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the Helen Diller Family Foundation, is proud to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds, located in the heart of San Francisco’s Civic Center Historic District. The Helen Diller Family Foundation has generously donated $10 million to fund the construction of these two vibrant state-of-the-art playgrounds. Members of the Foundation, Trust for Public Land, City officials, and members of the public, joined SF Rec & Park in a groundbreaking ceremony today. The gift of these playgrounds served as a catalyst for a renewed focus on improving and activating Civic Center and the surrounding area .

“Helen Diller was a park lover and a champion for children and families in San Francisco,” said Mayor Edwin M. Lee. “Her memory lives on through many of our City’s parks and playgrounds, and that legacy will now include the Civic Center Plaza Playgrounds. I want to commend the Helen Diller Family Foundation for their commitment to San Francisco, and I want to thank the Trust for Public and Land, and the Recreation and Parks Department for their continued efforts to improve green and open space in the City.”

The existing playgrounds at Civic Center Plaza are approximately 20 years old and in need of renovation and improvement. They are in an area where open space is limited for residents of the Tenderloin, Civic Center, Hayes Valley and South of Market neighborhoods. Because of their unique location, they also serve children attending nearby daycare centers, schools, and children who are visiting the Civic Center as part of their education. With the increase of population density in the Civic Center neighborhood, Civic Center Plaza has evolved into a neighborhood park with many functions that serve the diverse needs of those who live and work in the area. Civic Center Plaza is located in District 6, a district that has the highest density of population and is in great need of green space. In recent years, the growth of population has rapidly increased with housing developments booming in the area. In fact, according to a projection from the City’s Planning Department, it is expected that more than 2,000 households will be added to the Civic Center neighborhood by 2040.

“This new and improved playground will enhance the community for children and families,” said District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim whose district includes Civic Center Plaza. “I want to thank Rec & Park for continuously pursuing and improving access to play in San Francisco.”

Civic Center Plaza is the hub of the City’s cultural life, surrounded by the City’s most notable cultural institutions, including the Main Library, the Asian Art Museum, the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Ballet, and many other institutions that have active programming for children.”

“The design includes extensive planting and natural materials, focused on a warm and unique outdoor experience. It is our hope that these playgrounds serve as a timeliness anchor for one of the great civic plazas in the world,” said Jackie Safier, President of the Helen Diller Family Foundation. The playground also includes artistic lighting, which provides an inviting environment as well as helps safety at night.

In partnership with TPL, the Department conducted a comprehensive community outreach and design process. The extensive community process, which began in 2013, included a user survey, focus groups and community-wide workshops with stakeholders including parents, educators, children, institutions, and City agencies, and as a result, a conceptual design for the $10 million renovations was finalized and approved in fall 2016. The Trust for Public Land is using the $10 million grant from the Helen Diller Family Foundation to design and construct two new playgrounds at no cost to the City. This project is part of an ongoing partnership between SF Rec & Park and TPL, which has recently resulted in renovations of Hilltop Park, Hayes Valley Playground and Clubhouse, Balboa Park, and Boeddeker Park and Clubhouse. This partnership has delivered more than $25 million in investments to the parks in San Francisco.

“Helen Diller and her family have generously contributed to rebuild safe and uniquely fun playgrounds throughout the City including Julius Kahn Playground at Presidio, Helen Diller Playground at Dolores Park, and now the Civic Center Playgrounds,” said Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec & Park General Manager. “On behalf of the Department, I want to thank the Helen Diller Family Foundation for continuing to invest in kids and families in San Francisco.”

The improvements to Civic Center Plaza are part of SF Rec & Park’s overall efforts to improve green and open spaces in disadvantaged communities within San Francisco. Most recently, the Department reopened Hilltop Park, Gilman Playground, and completed the Mansell Streetscape project which converted two busy lanes of vehicle traffic to permanent pedestrian and bicycle only pathways in McLaren Park. This is in addition to SF Rec & Park’s construction on the park at 17th & Folsom in the Mission District, as well the Geneva Community Garden, and South Park in SOMA. The Department also runs recreation programming and family-oriented holiday events throughout the year.

“This spectacular new playground, made possible by a generous gift from the Helen Diller Foundation, will redefine play spaces in San Francisco and across the country with extraordinary design and opportunities for fun and exercise,” said Adrian Benepe, Senior Vice President and Director of City Park Development at The Trust for Public Land. “The Trust for Public Land works across the US to make parks for people, and we are proud to be a longtime partner with SF Recreation & Parks in bringing high-quality parks to the children and other residents who need them the most.”

City agencies and community stakeholders are collaborating to bring more positive and inclusive activities to Civic Center Plaza through interactive installations, regular programming, and innovative and stewardship-focused partnerships. This is an incremental, integrated approach to ultimately managing these spaces as the single civic gathering place it was always intended to be. In addition to various art installations, this effort to improve public spaces in Civic Center Plaza begins with the renovation of the Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds.

The Helen Diller Family Foundation supports programs and institutions in both the Bay Area and throughout the world, with a focus on education, science, and the arts. Most recently, to honor and build on a lifetime of giving and charitable service by the late Helen Diller, the Helen Diller Foundation has granted $500 million to UC San Francisco, a university to which Helen was both generous and devoted. The gift will be the largest single donation in UCSF’s history and one of the largest ever to a U.S. university.

About The Trust for Public Land

The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. More than 7 million people live within a 10-minute walk of a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year. For more information on The Trust for Public Land, go to: www.tpl.org<http://www.tpl.org/>.

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]]>Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds Groundbreakinghttps://sfrecpark.org/event/helen-diller-civic-center-playgrounds-groundbreaking/
Tue, 14 Feb 2017 19:00:00 +0000http://sfrecpark.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=108059Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds Groundbreaking Everyone is invited to celebrate the start of construction on these innovative, creative play spaces in the heart of the city. The event will take place … Continue reading →]]>

Everyone is invited to celebrate the start of construction on these innovative, creative play spaces in the heart of the city. The event will take place on Tuesday, February 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Civic Center Plaza at Larkin and Fulton Streets.

For more information, please contact Alejandra Chiesa from The Trust for Public Land at
alejandra.chiesa@tpl.org or (415) 800-5303

]]>Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds-PROJECT UPDATE OPEN HOUSE – Tuesdayhttps://sfrecpark.org/helen-diller-civic-center-playgrounds-project-update-open-house-tuesday/
Sat, 30 Apr 2016 00:03:35 +0000http://sfrecpark.org/?p=103945Continue reading →]]>Hi all
We want to remind you/let you know about this open house/ project update on Tuesday, May 3rd. It is an open house so feel free to stop by at any time between 5:30 and 7:30pm to see the designs and ask questions. We will have refreshments.
Looking forward to seeing you there!

As you may remember from our outreach meetings, this project was made possible through a generous gift from the Helen Diller Family Foundation. This gift has allowed us to work with you to develop the design for the playgrounds. Since early 2014 we had met with community groups, student groups and other stakeholders; we had site visits and community workshops to develop and refine the design. Your input has helped make the design and ideas what they are now. So THANK YOU!

An important next step, will be the Recreation and Park Commission Hearing on October 7th, starting at 2pm when we will seek approval for the design and the naming (and sign) for the future playgrounds “Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds” for the donor foundation’s generous gift.

As you may remember from our outreach meetings, this project was made possible through a generous gift from the Helen Diller Family Foundation. This gift has allowed us to work with you to develop the design for the playgrounds. Since early 2014 we had met with community groups, student groups and other stakeholders; we had site visits and community workshops to develop and refine the design. Your input has helped make the design and ideas what they are now. So THANK YOU!

LATEST NEWS

On June 17 the Historic Preservation Commission unanimously approved the design for the playground project that we have be developing with you. The Commission was very happy with the design and many supporters wrote and spoke in support of the renovation. Thank you for your testimony and letters of support.

Since then we have continued to develop the project details with the Recreation and Parks Department Staff and other agencies to develop the design and ensure that the playgrounds meet accessibility and building codes, will be durable and easy to maintain, and can be built within budget.

NEXT STEPS

An important next step, will be the Recreation and Park Commission Hearing on September 2nd, when we will seek approval for the design and the naming (and sign) for the future playgrounds “Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds” for the donor foundation’s generous gift.

]]>Helen Diller Playgrounds at Civic Center – Update!https://sfrecpark.org/90106/
Fri, 29 May 2015 22:14:01 +0000http://sfrecpark.org/?p=90106Continue reading →]]>Since our last community meeting we have incorporated feedback and started going through reviews to make sure we meet accessibility codes, playground safety, structural engineering requirements and maintenance requirements among other key considerations. We have also been focusing on developing the lighting design.

Based on these reviews the design has evolved but still kept the original intent and features that were presented at the last community meeting.

We will be presenting this plan to the Historic Preservation Commission on June 17th and Rec Park Commission in July. After those approvals, we can move into detailed design and hope to be able to start construction in the summer of 2016 and have the playgrounds open in 2017.